Cafeteria flunks student survey
Sodexho optimistic despite ‘D’ grade
October 31, 2007
Alison Fraser
Trinity Western University is celebrating its A+ rating for overall quality of education. This rating comes from the recent Globe and Mail University Report Card, which surveys 43,200 students from universities across Canada, asking them to rate their universities on matters such as class size, residences, quality of teaching, and food services.
There were many reasons to celebrate upon last week’s release of the report, but food services received a ‘D’ grade. Not only is the grade the lowest TWU received, but it is also the second year in a row Sodexho, TWU’s food service provider, received this mark.
“I’m not happy with the ‘D,’ but I can understand where that has come from,” said Bill Keith, the District Manager for Sodexho Canada in charge of running the Sodexho account at TWU. “I know we’re not an ‘A’ right now, but we are certainly not a ‘D.’”
Keith admits that although the grade is disappointing, he is confident that students are more satisfied than ever with the cafeteria, and that the recent changes are not reflected in the grade.
“I really believe that we’re heading in the right direction. The ‘D’ was taken last March, and I know we hadn’t had all the changes implemented by then.”
In response to last year’s grade, Sodexho brought in a team of specialists who interviewed and surveyed students before making changes. “The exciting thing was hearing the students’ comments daily in the cafeteria as there was change,” he said. “Students are looking for healthier options, more vegetarian food, variety, and that is how we targeted the changes that we made,” said Keith.
Students gave mixed reviews on the recent changes.
“I disagree with that grade,” said Nicole Den Haan, who lived on campus last year. “I think there are a lot of options for students. There is a salad bar if you want to be healthy. There are good choices in the international line, and you can go for the classic burgers and wraps.” She added, “I would have given them a ‘B.’”
Resident student Jay Stromsmoe is disappointed with the cafeteria compared to the options and prices at University of Lethbridge, where he attended last year. “The food here is subpar,” he said. “It costs too much for the quality of what you get, and I don’t feel like I’m getting value for my dollar. If there were other options on campus I’d go there, and I feel like they take advantage of the fact that there aren’t those options.”
For Sodexho, these other options are in the plans. The Lower Cafeteria renovations, which are bringing in three new food venues including a local coffee shop, are what Sodexho hopes will bring more choice and variety to on-campus food services.
“Companies can make excuses about ratings like this, or they can get really proactive about it like our company,” said Keith. “We want to be an ‘A’ company and we’ll do everything we can to be that – we have taken action, and we’re going to continue to do so.”
These actions are important especially now, as TWU’s contract with Sodexho is to end on April 30, 2008. Sodexho is planning to bid on the contract, hoping to secure their spot as the campus food service provider in the coming years.
“All companies can come to the table with capital. We come with innovation, a great staff, and an established partnership with the university,” said Keith.
This is a partnership that Sodexho is hoping will be able to continue and includes projects such as the collegiums, the music building and the Lower Cafeteria, all of which received partial funding from Sodexho.
Also contained within the Globe and Mail report was an article discussing how students nation-wide are expressing dissatisfaction with cafeteria food from the three major food services companies: Sodexho, Aramark and Compass.
The highest grade received by a food service provider was an ‘A–’ given to the University of Guelph, who handle all food operations in house - one of the few universities to do so. It is cited in the article accompanying the survey as a school providing variety, innovation and food quality.
Globe and Mail Summary
The Good
Class Sizes: A+
Faculty Knowledge: A+
Overall Quality of Education: A+
Quality of Teaching: A+
Reputation for High Quality Teaching: A
Overall academic reputation of university: A
Sense of Community on Campus: A
The Bad
Availability of Merit-based financial aid: C
Overall commitment to environmental sustainability: C-
Availability of Needs-based financial aid: D
Availability of Public Transportation: D
Student Residences: D
Overall Quality of Food on Campus: D
On-campus pubs/bars: D
Now you go...
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